where you have to get a permit for a fire, and then it's only allowed on certain beaches in restricted areas?

ok.

Actually, we have Clambake Beach. It's a long flat beach that is reserved only for clambake use. You have to make reservations well in advance. No surfers, sunbathers or anything else. It's only open two weeks a year (unless it rains).

__________________

__________________
"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." -Carl Sagan

lol. god would never make it rain there during the summer. that would really just be unfair.

you guys get those great white sharks, though.

i remember bringing my boogie board on a vacation to kennebunkport, once.

the guy at the hotel laughed when he saw me unloading it from the car, and asked what i had planned to use it for.

the next day we went down to the beach and didn't see a wave higher than 6 inches.

then i went into the water and as i got to about ankle deep, my feet turned purple and my testicles retracted up to my adams apple.

From the north coast of Cape Cod northward, the water is useful for growing seafood, not for people. Seek the south side of Cape Cod for water you can stay in for more than an instant. The Gulf Stream warms it nicely.

__________________
"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." -Carl Sagan

For here in Mass., the water temp can range from 48ºF. to 65ºF. in the summer. Right now it is starting on the decline. The end of summer swimming is nearing. I still see swimmers though at the beach up the street from me. The beach is in a little cove protected except for a Nor'easter. Only once on my life have I ever seen Boston Harbor freeze over. You have to remember, this is not the Caribbean.

__________________
Illegitimi non carborundum!
I don't want my last words to be, "I wish I had spent more time doing housework"

actually, i've heard it's cleaned up a lot, much like the hudson river.

It has been cleaned up. Now you can actually swim in it. And the Charles River was worse than the Harbor. Big kids now swim there. But if you get in the wrong place, you can find yourself out in the harbor on the way to Europe. The current in the river is very strong.

__________________
Illegitimi non carborundum!
I don't want my last words to be, "I wish I had spent more time doing housework"

My sister and I used to go to the clam bakes they had at the Chelsea Yacht Club. Waaay to much food. I used to take home all the lobster shells and make a seafood stock for clam chowder.

One time my daughter who has one of those burners that they use for turkey frying, used it for a clam bake at her house in the backyard. That big pan can hold a lot of seafood. My niece did the same thing when her youngest graduated from college with his Doctorate in Ministry. Quite an accomplish since he did it all in 4.5 years. All her kids are geniuses. Her daughter has her Masters with three engineering degrees. She started her college career while she was in H.S.

__________________
Illegitimi non carborundum!
I don't want my last words to be, "I wish I had spent more time doing housework"